I've always said that I'm not tied to religion, a man made attempt to purify themselves, BUT a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So often we hear people use religion synonymous with a faith...this is a terrible misnomer.

I ran across an article which has some strong points that would be good for anyone to review. My hope is that it will open up dialogue to explore together. Otherwise, for your reading pleasure!

This is an exceprt that stirred my spirit...

Jesus did not say, "I came that you might have religion, and practice it more faithfully," or "I came that you might have religion, and adhere to it more commitedly," or "I came that you might have religion, and define it more dogmatically," or "I came that you might have religion, and defend it more vehemently," or "I came that you might have religion, and thus behave more morally." What Jesus said was, "I came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). The life that He came to bring and express within us and through us is His life. "I AM the way, the truth and the life," declared Jesus to His disciples (John 14:6). The apostle John wrote that "He that has the Son has life; he that does not have the Son does not have life" (I John 5:12). "Christ is our life," is the phrase Paul uses in writing to the Colossians (Col. 3:4), for Christianity is not "religion," but the life of Jesus Christ expressed in receptive humanity.

I've always said that I'm not tied to religion, a man made attempt to purify themselves, BUT a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So often we hear people use religion synonymous with a faith...this is a terrible misnomer.

I ran across an article which has some strong points that would be good for anyone to review. My hope is that it will open up dialogue to explore together. Otherwise, for your reading pleasure!

I, too, draw a distinction between Jesus Christ and religion. Here is an interesting experiment anyone can do. The Net has a number of online search engines for looking up words in some of the versions of the bible. I just did a search in the KJV for the word 'religion' and did not get back one hit in any of the four gospels. I got the same result from a search engine for the RSV.

It would not appear that Jesus was a fan of religion either. At least not of what religion has come to mean in the English language. To find hits for the word 'religion' in the NT, you have to skip past all four gospels and look at accounts of events which occurred after Jesus ascended back to the Father.

Why do you think, as the title of this thread states, Christianity is not religion? It is informative to perform the aforementioned experiment, this time searching for 'christian' or 'christianity'. I just did and got back similar results. Which is to say that neither word appears in any of the four gospels. Again, these words do not show up until after Jesus ascended back to the Father.

Does this not bring to mind what Paul warned about:

Acts 20:28-31 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."​

Something else to think about.

According to a number of polls, Blacks are among the most religious of Americans. Most of the blacks who responded to these polls indicated some flavor of Christianity as their religion of choice:

If Jesus did not teach religion, yet so many Blacks do identify themselves as religious, specifically Christians, what does that say about which side American Blacks are fighting on in the end time prophecies about MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH?

I, too, draw a distinction between Jesus Christ and religion. Here is an interesting experiment anyone can do. The Net has a number of online search engines for looking up words in some of the versions of the bible. I just did a search in the KJV for the word 'religion' and did not get back one hit in any of the four gospels. I got the same result from a search engine for the RSV.

It would not appear that Jesus was a fan of religion either. At least not of what religion has come to mean in the English language. To find hits for the word 'religion' in the NT, you have to skip past all four gospels and look at accounts of events which occurred after Jesus ascended back to the Father.

Why do you think, as the title of this thread states, Christianity is not religion? It is informative to perform the aforementioned experiment, this time searching for 'christian' or 'christianity'. I just did and got back similar results. Which is to say that neither word appears in any of the four gospels. Again, these words do not show up until after Jesus ascended back to the Father.

Does this not bring to mind what Paul warned about:

Acts 20:28-31 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."​

Something else to think about.

According to a number of polls, Blacks are among the most religious of Americans. Most of the blacks who responded to these polls indicated some flavor of Christianity as their religion of choice:

If Jesus did not teach religion, yet so many Blacks do identify themselves as religious, specifically Christians, what does that say about which side American Blacks are fighting on in the end time prophecies about MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH?

Greetings brother Istlota and thank you for your response. I appreciate your input and agree, we weren't meant to cleave to man-made traditions and rituals as an effort to cleanse us of iniquity, nothing we do can do that. It is the bloody cross that covers us as we die daily to our flesh and develop a mind of Christ.

Christianity was first introduced by non-Christians of Antioch (Acts 11:26), it was used to mock believers. However, we have taken that name and wear it with honor signifying our lifestyle to represent the Heavenly Father, walking in the spirit in a Christ-like manner.. Now, we also describe ourselves as brothers (Acts 6:3), believers (Acts 5:14), or saints (Acts 9:13)...but to the World, we will always be labeled as Christians.

Yes, it's unfortunate, but there are many religious Christians. However, this was sparked by misguided teachings that became a tradition. My aim is to help folks realize that Jesus came to set us free not bind us to a law we could never adhere to on our own..but all is not lost

I'm still thumbing through the article this thread was opened with, so forgive me that I cannot dive into your article right away. It may be fitting to open another thread and post it there, as an additional topic for study and dialogue

I, too, draw a distinction between Jesus Christ and religion. Here is an interesting experiment anyone can do. The Net has a number of online search engines for looking up words in some of the versions of the bible. I just did a search in the KJV for the word 'religion' and did not get back one hit in any of the four gospels. I got the same result from a search engine for the RSV.

It would not appear that Jesus was a fan of religion either. At least not of what religion has come to mean in the English language. To find hits for the word 'religion' in the NT, you have to skip past all four gospels and look at accounts of events which occurred after Jesus ascended back to the Father.

Why do you think, as the title of this thread states, Christianity is not religion? It is informative to perform the aforementioned experiment, this time searching for 'christian' or 'christianity'. I just did and got back similar results. Which is to say that neither word appears in any of the four gospels. Again, these words do not show up until after Jesus ascended back to the Father.

Does this not bring to mind what Paul warned about:

Acts 20:28-31 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."​

Something else to think about.

According to a number of polls, Blacks are among the most religious of Americans. Most of the blacks who responded to these polls indicated some flavor of Christianity as their religion of choice:

If Jesus did not teach religion, yet so many Blacks do identify themselves as religious, specifically Christians, what does that say about which side American Blacks are fighting on in the end time prophecies about MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH?

Greetings brother Istlota and thank you for your response. I appreciate your input and agree, we weren't meant to cleave to man-made traditions and rituals as an effort to cleanse us of iniquity, nothing we do can do that. It is the bloody cross that covers us as we die daily to our flesh and develop a mind of Christ.

Christianity was first introduced by non-Christians of Antioch (Acts 11:26), it was used to mock believers. However, we have taken that name and wear it with honor signifying our lifestyle to represent the Heavenly Father, walking in the spirit in a Christ-like manner.. Now, we also describe ourselves as brothers (Acts 6:3), believers (Acts 5:14), or saints (Acts 9:13)...but to the World, we will always be labeled as Christians.

Yes, it's unfortunate, but there are many religious Christians. However, this was sparked by misguided teachings that became a tradition. My aim is to help folks realize that Jesus came to set us free not bind us to a law we could never adhere to on our own..but all is not lost

I'm still thumbing through the article this thread was opened with, so forgive me that I cannot dive into your article right away. It may be fitting to open another thread and post it there, as an additional topic for study and dialogue

Peace and Blessings!

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I just realized I didn't include a response to your reuters link.

This article shared survey results of which used religion to describe the lifestyle of a believer. Here's the problem, the world at large doesn't separate religion from relationship. Had I taken that survey, of which may have been written by an unbeliever, my responses would appear that I too am religious..far from the truth. Incorporating fellowship and prayer in one's life shows Who they honor and worship rather than the focus being to adhere to religious steps for sanctification.

If Jesus did physically return to Earth, would he recognize Christianity as the Way he taught?

The book of Acts talks about quite a few doctrinal disputes which arose even at that early date. Two thousand years later, I think we have to admit that much of the Way of Jesus must have been diluted, corrupted, and worse. Even in the case of well intentioned Christians, they are faced with such a long history of generation after generation of false teachers, wolves in sheep's clothing, who "changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature instead of the creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen".

I am, of course, quoting from the first chapter of Romans.

When I was a Christian, they used to refer to the book of Romans as the Roman Road because of so many verses which were perceived to be the roadmap to the kingdom of heaven. The verses I just quoted were usually referred to when Christians were talking about how homosexuals and/or polytheists were going to burn in hell for eternity.

It was not until years later that I heard anyone, not Christians, talk about just how monumentally the 'truth of God' had been changed into a lie ... and by people calling themselves Christians!

I was raised in the Baptist church by a pastor and his wife, going to church services most days of the week. But I never heard a word about the true history of the last word in Romans 1:25 [Amen]. All I was ever told was that Amen was the way Christians ended their prayers and that it meant so be it.

Later I found out, not from Christians, that Amen had a long history, going back thousands of years before the terrestrial births of Jesus, Abraham, or Moses. Amen was one of the names used to refer to God by Egyptians. Imagine my shock when I first found that out!

All those years, Christians had been programming me to think of Egyptians as devil worshipers and to think of their dieties as false idols. Then I find out not only Christians, but Jesus as well, ended all their prayers with the name of the Egyptian God.

Jesus, of course, living in that part of the world, had to know about the Amen of Egypt. After all, even the bible talks about him spending some unspecified time in Egypt as a child.

Then, later, I realized that Malachi 4:2 contained a prophecy of Christ, referring to him as Sun, not Son! With an accurate description of the winged sun orb of ancient KMT!

Malachi 4:2 "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall."​

When someone does genuinely yearn for nothing more than to follow the Way of Christ, I have serious doubts that seeking to be a Christian is now, if it ever was, the best path. One thing is for sure. The last person you need to talk to, if you truly do hunger and thirst for righteousness as Jesus spoke of in his Sermon on the Mount, is a 'bible believing' Christian.

But I better stop now. This is usually about the time that some moderator decides to bounce the thread within which I am participating to some forum other than the Christian Study Group forum. It is the rare Christian who wants to study what Jesus actually taught, or what the bible actually says.

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Brother, I appreciate the background you shared and thank you for that..it helps to understand where you are coming from. At this point, I must pause and remind you that study forms are for STUDY. I wouldn't dare go into a Kemet study thread and challenge why they chose that path. If I were a babe in Christ, I would take offense to

It is the rare Christian who wants to study what Jesus actually taught, or what the bible actually says.

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, but with maturity and a love for my people, I have accepted that this path will offer me many bumps in the road. Without knowing my story, your comment is premature, laced with judgement and hints that your beliefs are far from what this study group walks in, however, we are both committed to our faiths . So let's just end this particular dialogue respectfully, allowing each other the freedom to study and grow in whatever path we are lead to and respecting that choice.

... At this point, I must pause and remind you that study forms are for STUDY. I wouldn't dare go into a Kemet study thread and challenge why they chose that path. If I were a babe in Christ, I would take offense to, but with maturity and a love for my people, I have accepted that this path will offer me many bumps in the road.

Without knowing my story, your comment is premature, laced with judgement and hints that your beliefs are far from what this study group walks in, however, we are both committed to our faiths . So let's just end this particular dialogue respectfully, allowing each other the freedom to study and grow in whatever path we are lead to and respecting that choice.

I've always said that I'm not tied to religion, a man made attempt to purify themselves, BUT a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So often we hear people use religion synonymous with a faith...this is a terrible misnomer.

I ran across an article which has some strong points that would be good for anyone to review. My hope is that it will open up dialogue to explore together. Otherwise, for your reading pleasure!

I agree. Christianity can NEVER be expressed as a religion. Even Jesus told us that in Matthew 23 when he warned us of following religious leaders who lost sight of God's directives. I've learned that this is a lifestyle, mentality, and a thought process. To think of it as less is insulting to God, I believe.

I've always said that I'm not tied to religion, a man made attempt to purify themselves, BUT a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So often we hear people use religion synonymous with a faith...this is a terrible misnomer.

I ran across an article which has some strong points that would be good for anyone to review. My hope is that it will open up dialogue to explore together. Otherwise, for your reading pleasure!

I am simply blown away by your thoughts and words and thank you so much. This is a learning moment for me. I've been struggling and searching for the right words to try and address the subject of religion and how it can be mis-construed and directed in a negative way against belief in Jesus Christ. I've read your responses too, further on in this thread and I am so enriched by your responses. Wow! Thank you again.

I've always said that I'm not tied to religion, a man made attempt to purify themselves, BUT a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So often we hear people use religion synonymous with a faith...this is a terrible misnomer.

I ran across an article which has some strong points that would be good for anyone to review. My hope is that it will open up dialogue to explore together. Otherwise, for your reading pleasure!

This is my first time here on this particular board.
I have said that so many times before that there is a world of difference between CHRISTIANITY AND RELIGION. Religion is about man and Christianity is about Jesus. I find it amusing when Atheists and those who poke fun at Christianity say...I would ban all religion..or when there is a killing by Muslim extremist they say, that is what religion is all about.... are confusing Christianity with religion. Thanks for posting this link.

I've always said that I'm not tied to religion, a man made attempt to purify themselves, BUT a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So often we hear people use religion synonymous with a faith...this is a terrible misnomer.

I ran across an article which has some strong points that would be good for anyone to review. My hope is that it will open up dialogue to explore together. Otherwise, for your reading pleasure!

I haven't dissected it all yet; but I am loving this article! Here's what spoke to me:

"the revelation of God is the abolition of religion." 4

"Religion is clearly seen to be a human attempt to anticipate what God in His revelation wills to do and does do. It is the attempted replacement of the divine work by a human manufacture."

..."There is no path leading from a little bit of religion (of whatever kind) to a little more and finally to faith. Faith shatters all religion..."

..."I want you to set aside the notion of the Christian religion, because it's a contradiction in terms. You won't learn anything positive about religion from Christianity, and if you look for Christianity in religion, you'll never find it. To be sure, Christianity uses the forms of religion, and, to be dismally honest, too many of its adherents act as if it were a religion; but it isn't one, and that's that. The church is not in the religion business; it is in the Gospel-proclaiming business.....